Tributes after Guy St John Loveday is found dead at flats in Valentine Close, Fareham

TRIBUTES have been paid to a homeless man who was found dead at a block of flats in Hampshire.

Police officers were called to the homes in Fareham after the gruesome discovery was made yesterday.

There they found the body of a 50-year-old man inside the building on Valentine Close just after 7am.

Police named him last night as Guy St John Loveday and said his next of kin had been informed.

His death was initially being treated as suspicious but after an investigation officers said there were no suspicious circumstances. Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Linda Dawson, said: “We are still carrying out a number of inquiries as part of this investigation and would like to hear from anyone who may have seen or spoken to Mr Loveday since 7am on Tuesday, April 29, to contact us.”

The area was sealed off and a white investigation tent set up while forensic teams carried out investigations at the scene.

Officers also stood guard outside the block of flats throughout the day and remained there last night.

The Daily Echo understands he had taken shelter in the basement of the flats where he was found dead.

A post-mortem examination was due to take place at Royal Hampshire County hospital in Winchester yesterday afternoon.

John Dymes, 48, of nearby Nash Way, was a friend of the man.

He said: “He wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“He was homeless and I knew he tried to get a hostel but it never came to anything. It’s a crying shame.

“I had known him since he was 16 from the youth centre in Fareham. In all the time I’ve known him he never hurt a fly.

“He’s got a good family and God knows what his mum is going to think now.”

Tony Freer, 42, who lives in Valentine Close: “It’s shocking really. I didn’t know him but nothing like this happens round here.

“It’s definitely a sad thing to happen on your doorstep.”

Shaun Newman, 28, who was staying with his mother when the discovery was made, said: “I heard there was an incident at the block of flats I was living in and it’s a bit close.

“You do not expect this to happen.”

Police are appealing for the public’s help with the investigation and are asking for anyone who was in the are around Valentine Close from midday on Tuesday, to contact police on 101 quoting Operation Connery.